Seat, particularly an air passenger seat

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a seat, particularly an air passenger seat, comprising a seat part and a backrest, which has a backrest element ( 10 ) with an arched, one-piece frame part ( 12 ) consisting of at least one hollow profile ( 14 ). In order for the frame part ( 12 ) to have, at least in part, at least one additional hollow profile ( 16 ) and for the adjoining hollow profiles ( 14, 16 ) to be situated one behind the other in the normal direction of movement (flying direction ( 18 )) of the seat, the backrest element is reinforced in the relevant areas in such a manner that, even in the event of a crash, the base frame structure remains intact.

The invention relates to a seat, particularly an air passenger seat,having a seat component and a backrest having a backrest element with abent, one-piece frame component consisting of at least one hollowsection.

DE 100 50 151 C1 discloses a backrest element for a seat fixture with aframe of wood, light metal, or plastic forming the edge outline, a framehaving, at least in some areas, a groove introduced into the narrow sideof the edge and a pouch-like covering pulled over the frame and havingpiping which corresponds to the groove when in the use position andwhich is introduced into the groove inside the pouch on the covering.Provision is made as additional configuration of the disclosed solutionsuch that the groove receiving the piping is configured in the sideedges and in the upper edge of the frame rest. As additionalconfiguration provision may be made such that the edges of the side ofthe frame are designed in the lower area to be offset slightly inwardand to have no groove. In the disclosed solution the backrest isconfigured to be curved in order to achieve optimum seating comfort andin particular to provide support for the back of a seat occupant. Inaddition, the frame metal is in the form of a sort of backrest shellwith mounting surfaces for the respective fabric component mounted onthe front and rear sides; mounting surfaces of plastic or leather orcomposite materials may be used in place of textiles and the respectivecenter area is clear of the backrest element so that to this extentcovering of the backrest continues without additional support. Becauseof the elastic configuration of the respective cover component, the areaof the back of a seat occupant is nevertheless supported safely andcomfortably during the seating process.

In the disclosed solution the cover of the backrest is guided along theside edge component element, without undesirable movement of the coveroff center, since the inner piping of the cover is guided inside thepiping groove. However, the disclosed solution may not be transferred toseats such as motor vehicle or aircraft passenger seats. For one thingthe frame structure as configured is too weak to absorb the forcesarising in the event of a crash. For another there is no assurance thatin the event of application of a heavy load to the backrest structurethe piping component and accordingly the cover structure would not beunintentionally pulled out of the receiving groove in the side edges ofthe frame component, something resulting in separation of the cover fromthe backrest.

On the basis of this prior art the object of the invention is to createa seat having a backrest component which permits greater safetyespecially in the event of a crash. The object as thus formulated isattained by a seat having the features specified in claim 1 in itsentirety.

In that, as specified in the characterizing part of claim 1, the framecomponent has at least to some extent an additional hollow section, andin that the juxtaposed hollow sections are mounted one after the otherin the customary direction of movement (direction of flight) of theseat, a sort of two-chamber hollow section solution is achieved for thebent, one-piece frame component in the relevant area, something whichrigidifies the backrest element in the relevant areas to the extent thatthe base frame structure of the backrest element is more less preservedeven in the event of a crash and this structure is not unintentionallyfolded together- nor fails in another direction harmful to the seatoccupant. In addition, because of the hollow-section configuration, therigidified solution claimed for the invention is not made heavier thanthe flat contact surfaces disclosed for the solution described in theforegoing; this is a factor especially if the seat claimed for theinvention is used in aircraft, in which weight reduction is known toresult in increase in the payload. It has also been found that thecovering elements needed for supplementing the backrest may be moresecurely fastened to the hollow-chamber section solutions in questionthan to the conventional groove-piping fastenings mounted on the sidesof the frame component.

In one preferred embodiment of the seat claimed for the invention thebackrest element has the double-chamber hollow section in its lower areawhen in the service position, preferably in the area of the lower thirdof this backrest element. The rigidity in question of the backrestelement structure is of particular importance precisely in this lowerarea in absorption of crash forces. Additional weight may also beconserved by not providing the double-chamber hollow section for theentire frame component but exclusively for the area of the backrest ofparticular relevance to safety engineering, an area in which thebackrest is hinge-connected to the point of transition to theconventional seat element so that its tilt may be adjusted.

In another especially preferred embodiment of the seat claimed for theinvention the backrest element is bent in the shape of a U, a commonchamber wall separating the adjacent hollow sections. This results to agreat extent in the torsional rigidity desired for the backrest, so thatthe forces of the seat occupant are absorbed in each seating positionreliably and comfortably for the seat occupant. A contribution to thisend is also made by the circumstance that preferably the cross-sectionselected for the hollow section preceding in the usual direction ofmovement is the same as or larger than the cross-section of thefollowing hollow section.

In another preferred embodiment of the seat claimed for the inventionthe chamber wall of the preceding front hollow section facing in theusual direction of movement (direction of flight) is provided with aslant extending in the longitudinal direction of the backrest, a slantwhich forms an imaginary V with the opposite slant of the other fronthollow section of the U-shaped frame component. In this way a part ofthe fabric element, which may be fastened to the U-shaped framecomponent, is supported in two dimensions by way of the slantsindicated, so that an effective support is obtained and the fabricelements which may be received in longitudinal recesses of the hollowsection provided are deviated by more than 90°, so that undesirableremoval from the fastening groove in the section is reliably prevented.

Other advantageous embodiments of the seat claimed for the invention arespecified in the dependent claims.

The invention will be described in detail in what follows with referenceto the drawing, in which, in diagrammatic form not drawn to scale,

FIG. 1 presents a presents a perspective rear view of the one-pieceframe component of the backrest bent to form a U;

FIGS. 2 and 3 present a perspective top view of a cross-section of thetwo-chamber hollow section of the backrest frame component shown in FIG.1, in one instance a piping section being used and in the other instancea fastening wire or rod in order to fasten a cover element on thebackrest element indicated.

A modem aircraft passenger seat of the latest generation is described,for example, in DE 100 19 484 submitted by this applicant. The disclosedsolution relates to an aircraft passenger seat having a seat element anda backrest which are held so as to be movable in relation to each otherby way of at least one adjustment unit, the respective adjustment unithaving several articulations which are connected to each other at leastin part by way of a bar support structure with individual bar componentswhich hold the seat element upright in relation to a floor of a motorvehicle or aircraft. By means of an actuating unit the components of theaircraft passenger seat are made to execute positioning movements bywhich the seat component may be moved from an initial position to atleast one other position and back. In addition to the seat component,the other components of the seat such as foot and leg support andbackrest may be positioned at a large number of freedom of movementdegrees so that, in addition to various comfort positions, a restposition is reached for the seat occupant, one in which the backrest ismade by a restraint, as a result of tilting movement of the bar supportstructure, to follow the inclination of the seat component so that aninclined rest surface is formed for the seat.

The backrest element 10 described in what follows and illustrated in thefigures is to be used by preference for aircraft passenger seatsconfigured for this purpose. The backrest element 10 in question isoutfitted with a one-piece frame component 12 bent so as to assume theshape of a U and consisting of at least one hollow section 14. Inaddition to this first hollow section 14 the frame component has atleast in part another hollow section 16. The adjoining hollow sections14, 16 are mounted so as to be positioned one behind the other in thecustomary direction of flight of the seat (flight direction 18). Therespective flight direction 18 is indicated by an arrow in FIG. 1.

When the seat is in the service position, as illustrated for the backelement 10 in FIG. 1, this element 10 has the double-chamber hollowsection 14, 16 in the area of its lower third. As is to be seen in FIGS.2 and 3 in particular, a common chamber wall 20 separates adjoininghollow sections from each other. As is also to be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3,the cross-section of the hollow section 16 which is in front in thecustomary direction (direction of flight 18) is the same as or largerthan the cross-section of the following hollow section 14. The chamberwall facing in the direction of the customary direction of movement(flight direction 18) of the preceding front hollow section 16 isprovided with a bevel 26 extending in the longitudinal direction 24 ofthe backrest. This bevel 26 forms with the opposite bevel 26 a of theother front hollow section 16 of the U-shaped frame component 12 animaginary V 28, the bevels 26, 26 a of the respective imaginaryextension meeting in the area of the longitudinal direction 24 of thebackrest. The cross-sections in question of the two hollow sections 14,26 are otherwise configured to be more or less square or rectangular andthe comers of the respective section 14, 16 preferably are rounded.

As is also to be seen in FIG. 1, the rear hollow section 14 is in theclear especially in the upper third of the section wall 30 opposite thebevel 26, 26 a, so that there remain in this area more or less only theweb walls 32 extending in parallel with each other, which web walls arecut back even further in the direction of the chamber wall 20 in theupper closing area of the frame component 12. In order to make room forreception of a table component not shown which may be folded so as to beintegrated into the backrest, in the rear area of the latter, acorresponding recess 34 is made in the central third of the framecomponent 12 in such a way that the web walls 32 are also cut back asfar as the chamber wall 20 referred to.

To the extent that the web walls 32 remain in the area of the uppertwo-thirds of the frame component 12, they also contribute to thisextent also to stabilization of the entire backrest element 10. As isshown in the illustrations in FIGS. 2 and 3, the respective bevels 26,26 a are each delimited on the edge side by a longitudinal duct 36, 38which extends into the interior of the other hollow section 16 andaccordingly is integrated into it. The longitudinal duct 36, 38 isring-shaped in cross-section and in the direction of the 26, 26 acommunicates with the exterior by way of a strip opening 40. Thelongitudinal ducts 36, 38 in question serve either to receive a pipingsection 42 (see FIG. 2) or to receive a bar or wire section (see FIG.3).

A cover component 46 such as one in the form of a net, as shown in FIGS.2 and 3, or in the form of a cover fabric, leather cover, or the like(not shown) may be fastened on the backrest element 10 by means of thesections 42, 44 in question. For this purpose the piping section 42 maybe configured as a plastic section strip which may be connected to thecover component 46 by means of an adhesion or extrusion process. In thesolution illustrated in FIG. 2 the cover component 46 is wrapped aroundthe bar or wire section 44 and fastened by clamping in the associatedopening 40. In that two longitudinal ducts 36, 38 are present in thearea of the bevels 26, 26 a, the duct 38 on the left as viewed in theline of sight to FIGS. 2 and 3, for example, may serve to receive thenet as cover component 46 and the right duct 36 to receive a covermaterial or a leather cover component, which in turn is fastened as isthe net and then overlaps this net toward the exterior.

As a rule, the longitudinal ducts may also be positioned in the area ofthe rear hollow section 14 in order thus to participate in covering thedouble-chamber hollow section of the respective cover component (notshown). In any event the bevels 26, 26 a in question provide a levelsurface for application of the cover component 46 extending over thebevels, so that improved support is achieved to this extent. The bevel26, 26 a also permits deflection of the respective cover component bymore than 90° with respect to the outer longitudinal duct as viewed inthe line of sight to FIGS. 2 and 3, so that greater diversion of forceis achieved, and this makes certain that the respective cover component46 may not be pulled out of the longitudinal duct 36 by way of theassociated end section 42,44. The cover component 46 in question extendsover the clear area of the frame component 12 and thus is limited by thelatter on the edge side.

The solution claimed for the invention need not be limited to use inaircraft passenger seats but as a rule may be applied to any seat, inthe area of motor vehicles as well, and is especially well suited ininstances in which high rigidity accompanied by low weight is desired.By preference the hollow-chamber section is obtained by a conventionalextrusion process.

1. A seat, particularly an air passenger seat, with a seat component anda backrest having a backrest element (10) and a curved one-piece framecomponent (12) which consists of at least one hollow section (14),characterized in that the frame component (12) has at least one otherhollow section (16) and in that the adjoining hollow sections (14, 16)are mounted one behind the other in the customary direction of movement(flight direction 18) of the seat.
 2. The seat as claimed in claim 1,wherein, when the seat is in the service position, the backrest element(10) has the double-chamber hollow section (14, 16) in the lower area,by preference in the area of the lower third of such backrest element(10).
 3. The seat as claimed in claim 1, wherein the backrest element(10) is bent so as to assume the shape of U and wherein a common chamberwall (20) separates the adjoining hollow sections (14, 16) from eachother.
 4. The seat as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cross-section ofthe preceding hollow section (16) in the customary direction of movement(flight direction 18) is the same as or larger than the cross-section ofthe following hollow section (14).
 5. The seat as claimed in claim 4,wherein the chamber wall (22) of the preceding front hollow section (16)facing in the customary direction of movement (flight direction 18) isprovided with a bevel (26) extending in the longitudinal direction ofthe backrest, such bevel (26) forming an imaginary V (28) with theopposite bevel (26 a) of the other front hollow section of the U-shapedframe component (12).
 6. The seat as claimed in claim 5, wherein therear hollow section (14) is in the usual direction of movement (flightdirection 18) clear of the section wall (30) opposite the bevels (26, 26a), especially in the upper third, at least to some extent along thebackrest element (10), when such element (10) is in its serviceposition.
 7. The seat as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one hollowsection (16) having at least one longitudinal duct (36, 38) is providedto receive a piping section (42) or a bar section (44) by way of which aflat cover component (46) for the backrest may be fastened.
 8. The seatas claimed in claim 1, wherein the respective longitudinal duct (36, 38)is integrated with the associated hollow section (16).
 9. The seat asclaimed in claim 1, wherein two longitudinal ducts (36, 38) are presentwhich are mounted in the corner areas of the bevels (26, 26 a) of onehollow section (16), each of which ducts (36, 38) has an engagementopening (40) which communicates with the bevel (26, 26 a).
 10. The seatas claimed in claim 7, wherein the flat cover component (46) is in oneinstance a net and in another instance a cover material and wherein eachcover component (46) has facing it a longitudinal duct (36, 38) of itsown.